After 75 Years, The Seabees Show No Signs Of Slowing Down

Task and Purpose ^ | March 3, 2017 | By Matthew Olay

[Brad from Tennessee]

Thirty-seven years old.

By the time most American men reached that age back in 1941, they had already started families, bought their own homes, and had settled into their careers. In fact, with life expectancy being a mere 61 years old back then, they were already past the point of mid-life.

But when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7 of that year and the United States was thrust into war, the call went out for skilled tradesmen to join the Navy, so as to become part of the sea service’s first construction battalions.

These battalions would be used to replace the Navy’s then-endangered overseas civilian workforce with a new breed of warrior-builder, one who would not only build the bridges and pave the roads in support of America’s combat forces, but who would also be able to fight back when coming under fire.

These early volunteers during the first year of World War II would come to be known as Navy Seabees (from “construction battalion”), and thousands of them put their civilian lives — to include their families and their careers — on hold, so as to answer the call to duty.

And they did it at the average age of 37. . .

[WMarshal]

Engineering and construction are real-world trades that cannot, and will not, tolerate fools. Stupid ideas and stupid people in these trades kill people and waste fortunes so they are not tolerated.

The world would be a better place if it mandated that politicians had a successful career in professions like engineering, construction, or small business before they could seek public office.

[zot]

Thanks for posting this.
Here is a Seabee story from Vietnam: http://bswett.com/RVN/ThapChamWell.html

[Jacquerie]

Bump!

[DIRTYSECRET]

RED HORSE

[MuttTheHoople]

My grandpa, a veteran of WW I, wanted to join the seabees in WW II. However, at 44, even he was too old.

However, he was the Construction Superintendent on the Seventh Lock of the Panama Canal during that time.

[The Sons of Liberty]

After 75 Years, The Seabees Show No Signs Of Slowing Down

When Hurricane Camille devastated the Mississippi Gulf Coast in August 1969, the SeaBees worked round the clock using their heavy equipment to rescue people and help recovery. Those who suffered through that have not forgotten and are still very grateful!

[MileHi]

Neighbor guy is a VN Seabee. Good guy, but he sure was affected by his time there.

[thatdewd]

My Uncle Richard was a Seabee in the Pacific during WWII. Thanks for posting this.

[reg45]

Jimmy Carter was an engineer.

[Rastus]

My grandfather and Ward Cleaver were Seabees.

[PLMerite]

“After 75 Years, The Seabees Show No Signs Of Slowing Down”

Giving the Rolling Stones a run for their money.

[dsc]

“Jimmy Carter was an engineer.”

Jimmy Carter was a nuke. Nukes are pukes.

[Mrs.Liberty]

My grandfather was about 40 when he enlisted in the Seabees during WWII. He was a carpenter in/around Waltham, MA at the time, with five daughters. Spent some time training at the Seabee base in Port Hueneme, CA, then he and his unit were sent over to the Marianas.

[MV=PY]

"Jimmy Carter was an engineer."

Choo Choo Charlie was an engineer.

[ro_dreaming]

My maternal grandfather was a WWII Seaweed. I’ve got a picture of him on Okinawa Island Christmas of 1945.

I love that picture. Also part of why I joined the Navy as a cryptologic technician.

[Dustoff45]

In 1968, SeaBees came to Duc Pho to help out the doctors at the Americal Division. They were working in a large tent and had to send more serious patients out to either Qui Nhon or Chu Lai to Evac Hospitals. Often, they knew they could do more to stabilize the patients if they had better conditions. The SeaBees stepped in and built a structure that the doctors could use as an operating room.

When it came time to insulate the walls and ceiling, they incorporated large pieces of heavy Styrofoam that had been used to ship and protect mortar and artillery shells. I was told later that they did such a great job with the insulation that a small air conditioner was all that was needed to provided the comfort the doctors and patients needed.

I love Yankee ingenuity.

[zot]

Thanks for your Seabee story at post 17.

Thank you for your service! Dust-Off is an honored call-sign.

And thank you for your ministry.

[onona]

Cool story zot

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

We are the SeaBees. We build the roads the Japs retreat on.